[Artemis Webb]

I predicted a Yankee win. They had home field advantage. They had playoff experience. Surely the Astros were the team more likely to choke.

I'm about as good at predicting baseball games as I am at predicting presidential nominees (NEW YORK (AP) -- A year ago, no one could've pictured this. Yet here they were, Dallas Keuchel and the Houston Astros, soaking in champagne, merrily posing for a victory shot on the mound at Yankee Stadium.

After all that losing, this was one October win to remember.

Pitching on three days' rest for the first time in his career, Keuchel baffled New York for six innings of three-hit ball. Colby Rasmus and Carlos Gomez homered, and the Astros beat the Yankees 3-0 Tuesday night in the American League wild-card game.

BOX SCORE: ASTROS 3, YANKEES 0

"Nobody really gave us anything at the start of the year. And I don't think anybody gave us a shot at the end of the year," said Keuchel, the AL's only 20-game winner.

The orange-clad Astros, who secured their spot in this winner-take-all game on the last day of the regular season, advanced to the Division Series against the defending AL champion Royals starting Thursday night in Kansas City.

[Artemis Webb]

THE BASEBALL PING LIST

This is a medium volume ping list during the baseball season and a low volume ping list when all life stops in late October.
If you would like to be on the ping list please FReepmail me.

[ShadowAce]

Yup--I predicted a Yankees win as well.

It'll be interesting to see what tonight's game will be like. I think the Cubbies may pull it off, though my prediction is Pirates.

[DoodleDawg]

Having watched my wild-card Royals win 8 straight to advance to the Series last year I’m not underestimating the Astros. I think it’ll be the Royals in 4.

[canuck_conservative]

3 runs isn’t that much to give up in a playoff game.

Don’t blame the pitching, Yankees had no offense. LOTTA guys pulling down BIG bucks didn’t produce when it counted.

[ErnBatavia]

I guess my lack of following sports that much anymore is evident to me.....I have no idea when the Houston Astros stopped being in the National League...

[oh8eleven]

... end Yankees' season
That the Yankees lost was bad enough. That they went out without a whimper really p*ssed me off.
Half the problem belongs to the players who have forgotten how to play the game - especially playoff games. Small ball. You can't hit a 3 run homer with no one on base.
The other half of the problem is Joe Girardi. Yankees signed Jacoby Ellsbury to $153 million contract - and Giradri sits him the first playoff game. Oy.

[who knows what evil?]

The Yankees? What a pitiful line-up of ‘no-names’...I surprised Keuchel gave up ANY hits. Best part is that ESPN jocks are all wearing black armbands this morning.

[hadaclueonce]

I am always rooting for who ever is playing the Yankees.

[Sam Clements]

Congrats to the Astros. However, I would have been a lot happier if it were the Angels instead.

[DoodleDawg]

So last year the Astros were next to last in their division, and the only team that kept them from the cellar was the Rangers. Now the two are one and two in their division. Are they that improved? Or that lucky?

[al_c]

[Alberta's Child]

I predicted a Yankee win. They had home field advantage. They had playoff experience. Surely the Astros were the team more likely to choke.

You must not have been following the Yankees this season. They looked awful down the stretch, especially at the plate. I don't think any of the baseball pundits here in New York thought they had a chance against Houston with Keuchel on the mound.

It was actually a very good season for the Yankees. Last spring, the consensus here was that they wouldn't even be a .500 team.

[Larry Lucido]

Those Houston sonofabitches! I bet George is looking annoyed, the bastard!

[LongWayHome]

I’m no Yankees fan, but a one game playoff is absurd. Should go to 2 out of 3 for this round.

[Vermont Lt]

Someone writes one game playoff. As a Red Sox fan my immediate thought is Bucky F#%^*king Dent.

One game playoffs suck.

[shortstop]